Device for determining solar altitudes



y f vrCROSS REFERENCE July 15, 193,0.-` l wfA. covGsHALL 1,770,461

` -DEvIcE'FoR DETERMINIHG SOLAR ALTITUDES Filed Nov'. '7. 1927 2.2 :2/ v ,fz ze' Wam..

Patented .Italy v15, 1930 maar WILBUR A. COGSHALL, OF BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA DEVICE ron DETERMINING SOLAR ALTITUDES Application filed November 7, 192'?.y Serial No.,231,491.

Navigators`A and vother' observers, in determining thenposmon upon tbe earth, irequently use a method' i-Wliicli the observed' altitude of some celestial body7 usually the sun, is compa-red with a calculatedaltitude.

In using this method, tlieotirst step is the approximation of the observer s latitude aud longitude. With these values assumed. tney observer calculates what the altitude ot the f sun should be in the assumed position at the time of the observation. and by a comparison i vof. this. calculatedv altitude with the actual valtitude of the observer. he is enabled to correct the ori. inal anproxiinationsot his latitud-s and longitude. i i It is the objectof my invention toproducea device by the use oit which there maybe obtained without calculation the altitude of the sun atthe assumed position at the time of the observation.

I accomplish the aboveobject bv mount-v ing on a plate a pivoted arm which, has a slider bearingan index point, and I provide a Straight-edge movable relatively to the plate in a direction perpendicular' to itself. I provide the plate with markings b v means oi' which the pivoted arm may be set to various angular positions and which will enable the 'operator to set the slider Withtlie index point at desired distances from the pivotal axis of the arm. Y f I The accompanvinor drawing.illustrates mv invention: Figs. vl to el are plan views oinrv device Wit-l1 the various parts'in diiierent positions ot' adjustment. and Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line of Figjl.

The base platefifl oi my device has pivotall;r mounted upon it an arm ll'one end ot which is provided with a radially extendingr slot 12. On. this slotted portion or". the arm I mount aslider l having in iine with the slot l2 an opening cio'ed with a sheet llof ccllulV id. f5 parentrnaterial. In the ce" parent plate 14 is au ind as the slider lf vis :noed along; travels in a radial path. f i I' The pivotal mountingr of the arm is desirahl'v such that the arm can be clamped in various positions or" angular adjustment. To

, means ot' ehiL this end, I provide the plate with an upwardly projecting stud `16 which passes through a hole in the arm il and above such hole is provided with a'clampingnut 1T. Desirably, a spaceror washer 1S is inserted between the arm 1l and tlie plate 10 in order to for the slider 13. v n

Inscribed 'on the face of the plate 10 is a circle 2O so disposed that it passes exactly through the center of the stud 1G about which the arm ll pivots. Mounted in a posi ion to clear the arm ll. I provide a straight guide rod 21 disposed perpendieularly to the line joining the center ot the circle 2?() mul tim,

center of the stud 16: and on this guider-od QlI mount a slidable member 22 which preferablyis provided with a set screw in order that it may be clamped in definite position on the rod 21. i

provide between such two parts a clearance Carried by the member I provide a straightedge adapted to extend over the; plate lO perpendicular to the Iu ide rod 2l and parallel to the line joining the center of the Circle 2O with the center ot' the pivot stud 16. This straightedge is conveniently a. tine Wire or hair 2li.) stretched along a slot responding to hours. each or" said sub-divib sions being further divided to five readings in minutes. It" desired. the end of thc arm ll which ove-flies such araduatic-ns muv be provided ith supplementi-xav graduations bv vernier readings niav be over the line through the center ot' the circle 2O and the center of the pivot stud 1G when graduations. y

ling to the suns declination.

v time of the observation.

Both series ot graduations ez-:tcndin con-rv secutive order in opposite directions troni their respective zero points. is shown in the drawing', the arm 11 is a straight arm and the zero points ot both sets o duations are located ou the line through the ceoter of the circle L() and the cei'iter of the stud 16. This, however, is not at all essential to my invent-ion. y

As' a practical illustration ot a problem solved with inf: device,- let it be assumed that the observer approximates khis position in latitude 40 and longitude such that the hour angle of the sun at the time ot the observa,- tion is three hours. Let it be further assumed that the observation is .made on such av date and at such a time that the suns declinationv (obtained -from a suitable astronomical table) is +200. f

Indeterniinirne` the calculated altitude of the sun at thefapproxiniated position, the observer sets the arno 11 at an angle correspond` Under the conditions above assumed,this declination is andthe arm 11 is shown in Figure 1 set at lith the arm held in this position the slider 13 is adjusted to brinar index point- S over th circumference ot' circle 20. TWithout disturbingir the slider 13,

the arm 11 is now setat the hour anulewhich under the assumed condition is three hours. The arm is shown in this position in Fig. During these operations. the traine is conveniently swung about its axis of pivotal mounting' so that it will not interfere With the settingY oit' the arni and slider. rhe traine is now lowered, and adjusted along the guide rod 21 until the Wire 23 lies directlyT over the index point S. and the set screi.7 22 is tightened to hold the member 22 and trame in that position. The arm l1 is now adjusted to the azimuth of the sun. as obtained trom suitable astronomical tables. at the approxi mated position or" the observer andl at the lilith the arm held in this setting. the Aslider 13 is adjustedto bring the index point S under the Wire The position of the parts in this setting is illustrated in Fitz. 5l. The Wire 23 is no lonoer needed, and the :traine can there,tor he. swung upward to avoid interference will subsequent adiustnients. lVithout disturbing the slider 13, the arm ll is non' rotated to bringl the index point S over the circumference of the circle 2G. as shown in Fig. 'lfb angular position of the. arm 11 in this Settim corresponds to the altitude ot the sun. rrhi :l is readable upon the outer set. of .Gra duati Under the conditie ned. .the alti obtained will be l y l In its 'various settings. the index point S corresponds to the position oi" the sunas seen by a hypothetical observer located outside aineter of the smaller circle 20. l have indithe celestial sphere. To aid in explaining the various aspects ot' the sun as seen by such observer, I have shownin the vdrawings a.' circle having its center at the center of the stud 16 and havingF a radius equal to the di' catedthe successive positions of the index v point on the slider 13 by the designations S1, S2, S3, and Si. The center of the stud 1o I have denote-d as A and the center of the smaller circle 2O as B.

To an observer who is located on the earths axis projected and outside the celestial sphere andy who moves with the earth, the pointI A will represent the pole and the circle 30 the vsun in its path of movementdepends upon the hour angle, and the point S2 in ein'. Q, therefore, corresponds to the position ot' the sunas seen by the hypothetical observer at the time of the observation. with this point located. the observer is assumed to more in the plane of the meridian until directl;v over the zenith` the circle S0 will then correspond to the horizon. During1 the movement ot the: observer from the point over the pole to the point above kthe zenith, the sun would appear to more in a line parallel to the plane of the meridian. this line corresponding to the Wire as set, in Fics, f2 and 3. The distance of this'line from the center ot' the plate will evidently be proportional to the sine. ot the angular distance ot the sun from the meridian. The position of the sun along this line may be determined troni the. azimuth. this determination haring been made bv the setting illustrated in Fig; S. rlfhe lenrrth of the line A Si now equals the radius of the circle 2O multiplied b r the cosine of the altitude: and the altitude may be determined by swinging the arm Vl1 to the position illustrated in 4 in which the point S4 lies directif/'over the circumference of the circle 30, and the anale oi the arm ll i thus sot. indicates the altitwle.v

The altitude as obtained troni mi' instrunient is then compared 'with the 'observed altitude. and the observer is er-alilorl t. matr@ a correction in this approximated position To avoid errors dueto parall it in settinu th slider l?, and the straiqlit-r e "221 l i provide the plate 10 with a reflecting: su in order that the eye of the operator nur .he broutglit directlvrT over the index point S or'the ire o.

It willzbe noted that the circle 2() is einployedsolely for ,the purpose of setting vthe indexpoint S ata dist-ance from the center of the stud l proportional to the cosine of the angle which the slider-bearing portion of the arm 11 makes withthc lline joining the y' center of'thestud and the center ot' the circle 20. Other means may he employed for so setting the index point S hutthe 'circle '120.

`is a convenient. means and avoids the expense which would he involved in graduating the arm. 11 to indicate cosines directly.

I claim as my invention f j 1, A device for determining solar altitudes. comprising a plate, an arm `piif'otally mounted on said plate, a slider radially l movable on said arm' and having an index lati point. there'heing graduations on said plate for setting said arm at measured angles t a predetermined zero position. said device having means for locating said slider in positions at -`which the distance between `said index point and the axis of rotation of said arm will be proportional to the cosines of y predetermined' angles. a straight-edge disposed parallel to the radial path of movementol said index point when said armfis in zero position'and means for guiding said straight-edge yfor vmmementover said plate ina direction perpendicular to itself. 2. 'A device for-determining solar` altitudes, comprising a plate. an arm pivotally mounted on said plate. a slider radiallyk movable on said arm and having an index point. there being graduations on saidplate for setting said arm at measured angles to apre letermined zero position. said plate having inscribed upon it a circle Whose centudes, comprising a plate, a member rotatahle over said plate, said member' being pro vided with an index point, said device, being provided with means for indicating a setting oi said member such that thedistance lietWeen said index point and a predetermined straight line on said plate will be proportional tothe sine of the angular distance ot the sun from the meridian, said device including a straight-edge and provisions for guiding said straight-edge over said` plate and for maintaining it` always parallel to said predetermined straight line.

' In Witness whereof. I. VVILBUR A.. COG- SHALL, have hereunto set my hand at Bloomington, indiana, this second day of November, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven.

.WILBUR A. ooesHaLL.

ter lies in tlie path ot' movement of said index i point when said arm is in zero position and whose circumference passes through the aXis or" pivotal mounting of said arm. a straight- Y edge disposed parallel to the radial path of movement oi said index point when said arm is in zero posi ion. and means for guiding said vstraightedge ior movement over said plate ina direct-ion perpendicular to itself.

3. A device tor determining solar altitudes. comprisingI a plate. a straight-edge,

means for guiding said straight-edge for 4. A d vice for determining solar alti- 

